[Hereford Eye]

"Okay, ladies, I'm driving. We need to clear this place fast."
I smile at Diane and then at Amanda but I'm not sure the last one took. Stop in Flagstaff at a company parking lot. Switch cars. Switch suit cases. Pick up some cheeseburgers and drinks and off we go. There's what you might call a back road out of Flagstaff through Long Valley to Payson. 3-4 hours to Payson. Beautiful Ponderosa pine country. Rocky mountains. Great back drop for conversation.
"How am I doing?" I ask to the air. Don't care who answers, just need to start the talk. Diane in front, Amanda in back, which one will take the bait.

[Hereford Eye]

Amanda's Side

"How is he doing?" 18 years of preparation and that's what he comes up with?
Yeah, but what can he say? It's a start."
"Tactically, you're doing fine. Romantically, from what I can see, you are also doing fine." Haven't had one of those looks from mom in a looong time, Sassy little girl needs her mouth washed out with soap. "Paternally, there's something to be desired."
Damned fool is so predictable. Asks "what's that?" If he's so predicatble why don't I have an answer.
"Starting over here, Thomas? Is that your name?"
Yes, that's his name.
"Thomas, I do not know what I expected. I've spent 18 years expecting some man to introduce himself as my father and we'd fly into each other's arms and say stupid little girl things to each other. Now that it's here, I look at you and ask myself if you are really my father? How can I know?"
Had some time here and there since Sedona to think about it. We can't re-create 18 years. We can't know everything a father and a daughter know about each other. We have the rest of our lives and we can't make that up. So, what can we do?
Saw a plaque in a card store, one time. Thought it was terribly cutesy when I read it then. Today, I look at you and my mom, and it rings truer than it did. Placque said, "the best thing a man can do for his children is to love their mother." I've seen that. So, you're doing okay by me."

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Okay so their first exchange of thoughts was not earth shattering. More posturing to make the other think....what? It is so tempting to jump in and smooth things out for them. Remember this is me - Diane Ms. Do It My Way or No Way Evrett. But I bite back the smiles and despite what I want to do, I just look out the window and listen to them.

There is much for all of us to learn together. I have had her to myself for 18 years. I've had him to myself for a little over three days. I don't want to lose any time with either of them, but this is supposed to be our family now, so that means sharing. Letting them share themselves and history with each other, sharing future plans among ourselves, sharing myself individually with each - as each needs me to be. I think back to what I have waiting - a career I hate - and I think back to what I always wanted - a family and dirty house to bitch about - and for the moment I am content to listen to them posturing.

I an filled with overwhelming love for both of them.

[Zack Ryan]

They had talked, making plans and discussing things for the future. Eli gave Thomas his dead end post office box in Mission Hills, Ca. and Thomas gave his in a small town in Central Ga. Six months, in Overland Park, Kansas, the Holiday Inn bar, they would meet. Neither knew where the other was going and, in truth, didn’t want to know. Awkwardly they shook hands and walked out of the terminal into the sunlight, back to their new families.

Eli and Rachel boarded the small two engine charter, she in the back, Eli in the co-pilots seat. They introduced themselves and they took off. About 10 minutes into the flight Eli asked the pilot if all the arrangements had been made and he said yes, that the end was near. Eli glanced back at Rachel and nodded imperceptibly, a signal they had agreed upon before they boarded the plane. Eli turned, asked the pilot if he could fly for a bit. He was a bit rusty and would like to get some hours in so he could renew his license.

As Eli took the wheel and the pilot removed his hands from the wheel, Rachel pressed her fingers to the sides of his neck, his body stiffening and then relaxing as he lapsed into unconsciousness. Eli flew the plane to follow a route he knew about and eventually saw a lone car traveling at a sedate speed; someone with plenty of time was driving that car. He descended and slowed slightly, quickly glancing at the pilot and making sure he was still out. He was about 50 feet above the road as he passed the car, pulling back on the wheel to gain altitude and waggling the wings. He pushed the throttles forward and plane ascended into the sky; its destination was somewhere west of there, only Eli knowing where. He would fly east for a while, putting down somewhere along the way to dump the pilot, then west to his and Rachel’s new home.

Thomas smiled, whispering to himself, “good bye my friend”. He reached across and squeezed Diane’s hand and she squeezed his back. He glanced over at her and she was smiling at him, then she looked back and saw that Amanda had laid her head against the side and dozed off. A contented sigh escaped her lips and she looked out the window at the beautiful land moving by her window.

[Scarlett O'Hara]

Rachel's Side

The Old Man is actually pretty cool! Though I can see that we have a long road to travel regarding trust. He doesn't fully trust anyone, I think. Well, I think he trusts my mother and me, and maybe Thomas and Diane. We'll learn more about them, I'm sure.

The plane trip provided us plenty of time to chat. It was awkward at first, neither of us are very forthcoming with personal details, yet we managed to get past it. I was surprised to learn that he didn't know about me until a little over 3 days ago. And he told me about my mother's subtefuge at the orders of the agency. It was DNA rape, in my opinion, but he seems at peace with it since it was my mother, Miriam. I think he genuinely loves her. I'm glad. She's given too much to those bastards in Washington and the cause. The Old Man is already talking about us getting to her immediately and disappearing. Good! My Mom deserves some cherishing for a change. I think they will be good together and for each other.

He actually talks to me like I'm an adult. That's a change. Except for Mom, everyone talks to me like I am a misfit, a geek, a weirdo. But he makes me feel like a normal daughter going home. I find I am looking forward to it. And even as he talks about the payback he wants against the agency, I don't know that he would put himself on the line any more. He now has too much to lose with Mom and me next to him.

Yeah, I think I like the Old Man. I think I like him a lot. If he is extra good to and for my mom, then maybe I will even love him one day. Maybe.

[Scarlett O'Hara]

And that is our story concerning the The New Human Family - An Experiment in Alternative Family Life. It all started for me because I wanted something I didn't have. An overwhelming need to be more than just myself is what drove me to extraordinary means. I think about what this journey has cost me and I realize nothing. Only gain as far as I can see. There has been heartache but it was all worth it, and I have been rewarded a hundred fold.

Occassionally, I wonder about the girl with chestnut hair and green eyes but she is someone else's daughter. My daughter is Amanda. Always has been and always will be. I realize the most important lesson in all of this has been: It is not some microscopic DNA strand that makes you a perfect family. A real human family is one that gives unconditional love and acceptance to each member regardless of their commonalities or faults. A real human family realizes they are better together than apart and that each member brings to the relationship something far better than anyone else has - themselves.



EPILOGUE

The University of Arizona announced that their program titled "The New Human Family" would continue as before, matching the very best possible donors to the very best possible candidates for motherhood. Their commitment to a highly ethical and alternative format will remain in place primarily due to the success of the program during its first 19 years in existence. Current people in the program will continue to be monitored in accordance with the contracts signed by each party.

However, the private funding for this program has recently been in the news. The government involvement has been terminated following congressional hearings into governmental abuse of the program and budget irregularities. Two private sources have stepped in to continue the funding of the program in conjuction with the University of Arizona. The research department of the university will have all rights to any medical breakthroughs discovered as a result of the program activities. But the two private sources of funding will share oversight approval for the program and will become the deciding votes on what is done with any of the medical breakthroughs. The University of Arizona refuses to name the private citizens now involved.

Other related news: Several key officials in Washington and Phoenix have been removed from their posts and face possible legal proceedings concerning their use of the program. However, the information has been deemed of "national security" and will not be released to the public.

[Scarlett O'Hara]

I close the new red book I had been reading and stretch. I am overcome with conflicting emotions conerning it. Again I look at the copyright page and find it blank. I wonder about this. Does it mean the book, and its story, isn't real or that it is real? Stretching again, I notice that the light is fading fast in The Hub's library and I wonder how I will get out. The door had faded upon my entry.

Standing, I drop the book into the chair and walk around the shelves, again letting my fingertips lightly caress book spines. Then I see it. Another brand new book, this one is bright blue leather binding. And I hear a door opening. My head snaps around and I see the library door has reappeared. I grab the bright blue book off the shelf and run to the door before it can fade again, slipping through quickly.

Standing in the attic hallway, a blue book in my hands, I watch as the attic door disappears again. Looking sheepish, I tuck the book under my arm and get the hell out of the Hub.